CD98/SLC3A2

CD98, the product of SLC3A2, is the shared heavy chain of the heterodimeric amino acid transporter family. Through a disulfide bond it pairs with light chains such as LAT1 (SLC7A5), forming transporters for large neutral amino acids that fuel lymphocyte activation and tumor anabolism. Independent of transport, the CD98 ectodomain engages beta-1 integrins, potentiating cell spreading, migration and survival signals. Expression rises sharply upon T-cell activation and in proliferating epithelia and carcinomas, which keeps CD98 in focus as a marker of activation and a proposed antibody-therapy target in hematologic malignancies. Recombinant CD98 is used to study transporter assembly and integrin co-signaling.